This award will support a joint seminar entitled "Advances in Mercury Toxicology" between U.S. and Japanese scientists. The seminar organizers are Professor Thomas W. Clarkson of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Professor Tsuguyoshi Suzuki of the School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan. The seminar will be held in Tokyo, August 1-3, l990. The meeting will bring together scientists to evaluate new concepts on environmental transport of mercury and its mechanisms of toxicity. The problems associated with mercury pollution of the food chain and potential human health effects of mercury ingestion are of concern in both countries. The agenda includes topics ranging from environmental fate, through biotransformation, mechanisms, and organ-specific toxicity, to clinical aspects of human intoxication. All the participants, both Japanese and American, are internationally recognized experts in their fields. Previous meetings involving U.S. and Japanese researchers helped advance the understanding of mercury toxicity in both countries. The organizers expect this meeting to have a similar impact.
